I'm leaving my high paying CNA job for a lower rate job working as a Therapy aide???

[NTechTruth]

I know. To most people, it sounds crazy. Some people may be thinking, why would you leave a job that pays well? Why would you lower your standards?

Believe me, I did put those points into consideration. I knew I wouldn't be making a lot of money. My boss even let me know. And when she asked me again if I wanted to stay at nights, I hesitated. This is when doubt starts to come in.

Being a CNA at nights, I do make a lot of money, and honestly, I really do the job well. In fact, I get almost nothing but praises and respect from my fellow co workers. That right there is a blessing.

But, I really had to take a deep look inside, and ask myself these questions. Do I really like what I am doing? Do I love nursing? Is it worth it, just to make a lot of money?

I do like helping people. I feel that's what I'm called to do.

I did have experiences in both fields. I did spend enough time to analyze what I had to do to in both fields.

In case and point, Therapy aides really don't make enough money. Only eight hours a day, and sometimes the pay varies.

CNAs make a lot of more money, one because the are certified, an most places do pay a good or more amount of money. Shifts are mostly 12 hours, day and night.

Then I ask myself more questions. Are you happy making a lot of money, and most importantly, are you happy with what you are doing? Do you believe in what you're doing is right? Do you believe this is making a positive influence? Do you believe in the job overall?

These are the answers.

It is good to make a lot of money, so yes I do believe that. But, what I do most of the time really doesn't make he happy, unless I have a good shift. I do believe that helping people is the right thing to do, but there's always better ways to help, without dealing with the politics and stress. Like I said before, I have a major positive influence on my unit, because I believe that having healthy relationships with your co workers is right. In my job overall, I don't believe in the purpose. I don't believe in the mission anymore.

I'm seeing a big decline in nursing. Most of the time, it's either drama, more drama, greed, or politics. Then there's constant rule changes everyday, pointless huddles, pointless staff meetings, etc.

What I'm also seeing is an increase in lazy people who don't want to do their jobs anymore. Most people are old, or older. They have been there for many years, and some feel that it's time to work less and still get paid more money. And you know the funny thing, they don't get in trouble. Even people who speak out to the bosses and tell them, they just brush it off. Can you take a guess why? Either they need more and more staff for money, or they have close relationships with that person. (Favoritism)

Another thing that I've talked about before, staffing. I won't get too much into it, but having too many patients to yourself and cooperates to management ignoring the issues is just unacceptable to me. Especially with the big increase in heavy patient load, you try to do much as you can, but you can only do what you can, and that's something I can't do. It's not right.

Another thing, favoritism. I also talked about this. Just the other night, one nurse basically scolded another cna, because she didn't like working with her. She, and most people basically want me. There's no trust anymore. Most people in nursing is divided. I don't see people actually working together anymore, unless they want to. They don't trust each other. How can we give great care to patients when we can't even work together?

For therapy, it's a different environment. I help the therapist give therapy to patients, make sure the area is clean, stock up on items, filing paper work, scheduling, and that's basically it. Sometimes it does get busy though, and there are some people who are hard to work with. But that's with any job.

The hours are better too. From 8-4, and it would definitely help with school when I go back. Yes, there will still be weekends, and I may have to work straight days, but I honestly miss the day night routine, and sometimes I hate having to stay up all night just to condition myself.

My goal is to still help people, and I do have an interest in therapy. It may not be as I want if I decide to change paths, but I know one thing for certain.

I can't be a part of nursing anymore. I've worked both days and nights, and I know that i don't see myself as a nurse anymore. I wanted to be at first, but in time, I lost interest. It's all about favoritism, laziness, and most of all, cooperate and management greed. It's a lot of pressure to make sure that you give the patient the right care, with bosses breathing down our necks. Plus, with surveys coming up, they expect high scores, or else there will be more pointless meetings discussing the same problems.

I know all jobs have their ups and downs. But If you love what you do, then you can fight through it. I enjoy helping people, and If I decide not to choose therapy, it is what it is. There's more than one career in the health field to help people. And now, My interests have now gone to therapy. And if I have to take a big leap of faith and take the low pay cut, so be it. I can't be in a field where I think that there's so much wrong that it gets to the point that it is just ridiculous.

I know I will be criticized, especially because of the pay rate, but it's time to follow my heart and see where it leads me.

So, the answer is, yes.

[Kitiger, RN]

You refer to yourself as a nurse, yet you say you are a CNA. I don't understand.

[pixiestudent2]

My sister is a therapy aide. She really loves it.

[NTechTruth]

I said I wanted to be a nurse, but now I decide not to, after being in the nursing field/being a cna for a long time. Sorry for the confusion. lol

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

NTechTruth: I appreciate where you are coming from; and, if you no longer like being a CNA, then move onto what you would like to do. That's being smart; and it's not about the money.

I caution in stating you are in the nursing field as you are not a nurse; from my understanding you are in a specific area of healthcare. To put it another way, for someone to state they work in the IT field JUST because they use a computer is no different than someone who is not a nurse stating they work in the nursing field.

I would also caution you that ruling out becoming a LPN/RN (a nurse) based on being a CNA (an extremely important position, but NOT a nurse) as well as being (based on my take what you wrote; correct me if I'm wrong) only in LTC. RN's can work in an extremely wide variety of environments; and given your wisdom and experience as a CNA, you might make a fantastic nurse able to make positive changes wherever you go.

[Kitiger, RN]

I would also caution you that ruling out becoming a LPN/RN (a nurse) based on being a CNA (an extremely important position, but NOT a nurse) as well as being (based on my take what you wrote; correct me if I'm wrong) only in LTC. RN's can work in an extremely wide variety of environments; and given your wisdom and experience as a CNA, you might make a fantastic nurse able to make positive changes wherever you go.

I agree

[NTechTruth]

Thanks for the kind words. I didn't mean to put it like that. I just thought being a cna was part of the nursing field. I guess not. And no, I don't see myself being a nurse. There's too much to know and I don't feel knowing all that knowledge is a good thing for me. I am just a hard worker, no matter what area of field I work.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Thanks for the kind words. I didn't mean to put it like that. I just thought being a cna was part of the nursing field. I guess not. And no, I don't see myself being a nurse. There's too much to know and I don't feel knowing all that knowledge is a good thing for me. I am just a hard worker, no matter what area of field I work.

Being a CNA is a part of the nursing field. You (and I) are considered an unskilled worker but a part of the nursing staff. Good for you for knowing where you want to go from here.